Insulated container

ABSTRACT

The insulated container having a support that separates the ice, food, and drinks from the melted ice water to prevent damage to the food items. The ice, food, and drinks are placed on top of the flat upper surface of the removable support. The removable support has an inflatable bladder on the underside designed to look like downwardly positioned semi-cylindrical ridges, having apertures between the ridges in a foldable spine that allows the melting ice water to drain past the top surface, at the edges of the bladder and through the apertures of the removable support into the voids between the semi-cylindrical ridges below.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority from priorprovisional application Ser. No. 61/999,304, filed Jul. 22, 2014 whichapplication is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF the INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of ice chestinternal supports and more specifically relates to an insulatedcontainer having a removable support.

2. Description of the Related Art

The portable ice chest was invented in the state of Illinois in 1953.Since then, there have been many modifications to improve itsfunctionality and cost of production. Ice chests have also gainedwidespread popularity in many other countries because of itsconvenience. The advent of the ice chest enabled people to takeperishables and other foods with them on picnics, vacations, and onholidays without the foods spoiling. Many people live at far enoughdistances from grocery stores that some purchased foods would have ahigh likelihood of spoiling before reaching home, and as such, the icechest has become indispensible for that purpose in addition to theaforementioned uses. Generally, ice is placed within the ice chest andbeverages are placed among the ice cubes while food is placed on top ofthe ice cubes to separate it from the water that comes off of the ice asit melts. A common problem with ice chests is that when the ice meltsfar enough, the food items tend to sink into the ice water and becomesoaked and therefore inedible. An invention that could keep food itemsin ice coolers always above the water level from melting ice, but yet inclose proximity to the coldest portion of an insulated ice chest, wouldbe a welcomed innovation.

Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problemssuch as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,230 to Dan Brusky, U.S.Publication No. 2015/0014336 to Jose Rosendo Jimenez, and U.S. PatentNo. 2012/0151944 to Handy Carlson. This art is representative of icechest inserts. None of the above inventions and patents, taken eithersingly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.

Ideally, an ice chest insert should be able to maintain food items abovea melted ice level to prevent ruining food items by draining the icewater into cavities below the ice, and yet, would operate reliably andbe manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliableinsulated container having a removable support to avoid dieabove-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known ice chestinsert art, the present invention provides a novel insulated containerhaving a removable support. The general purpose of the presentinvention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is tomaintain food items above a melted ice level to prevent raining fooditems by draining the ice water to cavities below the ice.

The insulated container is an insulated ice chest having a storage spacecontained by a bottom surface with an area and a perimeter, and aremovable support designed to be placed inside the insulated containeradjacent and above the bottom surface. The removable support has a topsurface with a generally planar shape to support content placed withinthe container over the bottom surface, and at least a first leg adaptedfor mating with the bottom surface to maintain a space below theremovable support for melted ice water to collect. The support of theinsulated container may have a first cylindrical-sectional ridge servingas a first lea and having a first flat portion disposed above, with thetop surface also being the first flat portion. A secondcylindrical-sectional ridge may serve as a second leg having a secondflat portion disposed above, with the top surface also being the secondflat portion.

A spine is formed between the first and second ridges along the topsurface that

has enough flexibility to allow the support to be folded along the spineunder compressed or lull form. At least one aperture is disposed alongthe spine that allows water to drain past the top surface into the emptyvoids below the removable support to keep the melted ice water below,and the ice above, separated.

The insulated container may comprise a hollow bladder adapted to becompressed under lack of internal pressure, and alternately, to expandwhen inflated. The support further preferably has a first input portdisposed along the outer surface of the first cylindrical-sectionalridge for exchange of either gas or liquid to form and release internalpressures within the hollow bladder. To accomplish this, the hollowbladder is made of a flexible and stretchable material. The first inputport may be a blow tube adapter adapted to allow either forced air or aliquid to pass into the hollow bladder. A seal in the blow tube adapterhas both an open and a closed position with the closed position adaptedto prevent exchange of gas or liquid into or out of the bladder. Theflexible and stretchable material of the bladder may comprise a restingsize such that when the bladder is filled with liquid water and the sealis closed, the liquid water may be frozen and the material stretches tocontain the expanded volume of the frozen water. There may be a secondinput port disposed along the outer surface of a second semi-cylindricalridge, and in embodiments having a third semi-cylindrical ridge, a thirdinput port may be disposed along the outer surface of the thirdsemi-cylindrical ridge.

The support of the insulated container preferably has a solid planarstructure and a hinge adapted to allow the support to be folded. Thesolid planar structure may have at least two separable panels joined bythe hinge but may have more than two separable panels in someembodiments. The storage space is contained by at least a bottom surfacehaving an area defined by a perimeter and the removable support adjacentand above the bottom surface. The removable support has a top surfacehaving a generally planar shape to support content placed within thecontainer over the bottom surface. At least one aperture is formedwithin the top surface where the support rests adjacent to the bottomsurface. The perimeter shape is adapted to mate and to lock in placewith a complimentary surface, more specifically, the interior of theinsulated container. Alternatively, the removable support preferably issubstantially made of foam or some other suitable material havingsimilar characteristics.

A method of storing material within the cooler may have the steps of (1)providing an insulated container having a bottom surface, (2) placing aremovable support onto the bottom surface whereby the removable supportfits adjacent to the bottom surface, (3) providing at least one aperturein the top surface of the removable support to allow liquid to flow fromabove the support to the bottom surface below the support, (4) insertingat least one foodstuff into the cooler above the removable support, (5)adding ice above the foodstuff, (6) allowing the added ice to meltwhereby the melted ice water flows through the aperture(s) to the bottomsurface, and (7) draining the melted ice water from the bottom surfacethrough an outlet port in the insulated container. The method furthermay comprise the step of inflating the removable support with forced airthrough a blow port prior to the step of placing it into the insulatedcontainer. The step of inflating may include inflating two or moresemi-cylindrical ridges having a shared top surface with the apertureformed in a spine(s) between the ridges. The method further may have astep of inflating the removable support with a liquid through a portprior to the step of placing and of freezing the liquid within theremovable support, after the step of inflating and before the step ofplacing.

The insulated container may have a storage space contained by at least abottom surface having an area and a perimeter, and a support adjacent toand above the bottom surface. The support may have a top surface with agenerally planar shape to support content placed within the containerover the bottom surface and have at least one aperture formed within thetop surface. In one embodiment, the insulated container may further havea hinge coupling attached to an interior wail of the insulated containeradapted to allow the support to rotate upwards from the bottom surface.In this embodiment, the removable support is designed so that it can beremoved, or it can be left in the insulated container and folded upwardout of the way for cleaning.

The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as aninsulated container having a removable support. For purposes ofsummarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures of the invention have been described herein. It is to beunderstood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved inaccordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus,the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achievesor optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught hereinwithout necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to benovel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theconcluding portion of the specification. These and other features,aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cutaway perspective view illustrating an insulatedcontainer having a removable support according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a support of the insulatedcontainer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a spine and aperture of theremovable support of the insulated container according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a front elevation view illustrating a removable supporthaving two ridges of the insulated container according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a front elevation view illustrating a removable supporthaving three ridges of the insulated container according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a bottom view illustrating the removable support of theinsulated container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a front cutaway elevation view of an alternate embodiment ofthe insulated container according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 showing a flowchart illustrating a method of use of the insulatedcontainer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 demonstrates a top view of a support of the present invention.

FIG. 8 demonstrates a perspective view of the embodiment of the supportshown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 demonstrates an underside perspective view of a support of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 demonstrates a perspective view of a support of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11A demonstrates a cut-away perspective of a resting support of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11B demonstrates a cut-away perspective of an elevated support ofthe present invention as shown in FIG. 11A.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a icechest insert and more particularly to an insulated container having aremovable support as used to separate the melted ice water from the iceand food items in an insulated container.

Generally speaking, the insulated container is an ice chest that has aremovable support that separates the ice, food, and drinks from themelted ice water to prevent damage to the food items. The ice, food, anddrinks are placed on top of the flat upper surface of the removablesupport. The removable support has an inflatable bladder on theunderside designed to look like downwardly positioned semi-cylindricalridges, having apertures between the ridges in a foldable spine thatallows the melting ice water to drain past the top surface at the edgesof the bladder and through the apertures of the removable support intothe voids between the semi-cylindrical ridges below.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown inFIG. 1, a cutaway perspective view illustrating insulated containerhaving a removable support 100.

Insulated container 110 is an insulated tee chest 112 having removablesupport 120 that separates ice 130, drinks, and food items 140 anddrinks 131 from melted ice water 150 and drains the melted ice water 150to voids 160 below removable support 120 and onto bottom surface 125 ofinsulated container 110 to keep food items 140 dry. Generally, the termfoodstuffs can refer to dry or wet food, typically alone or in separablecontainers such hard of soft containers, or drinks and drinkingcontainers. Melted ice water 150 can be drained from drain port 170 nearthe bottom of one sidewall 115 of insulated container 110 or may be usedas drinking water. Insulated container 110 has storage space 117contained by bottom surface 125 with an area and a perimeter, andremovable support 120 adjacent and above bottom surface 125. Removablesupport 120 preferably has top surface 127 with a generally planar shapeto support content placed within insulated container 110 over bottomsurface 125. Removable support 120 preferably has at least twosemi-cylindrical ridges 172 downwardly deposed from the flat top surface127. Semi-cylindrical ridges 172 are preferably inflatable bladders 155.Spaces between semi-cylindrical ridges 172 create voids 160 forcollection of melted ice water 150.

Referring now to FIG. 2, is a perspective view illustrating removablesupport 120 of insulated container 110.

The support of insulated container 110 may have firstcylindrical-sectional ridge 175 serving as first leg ISO having firstflat portion 182 disposed above, with top surface 127 also being firstflat portion 182. Second cylindrical-sectional ridge 185 may serve assecond leg 188 having second flat portion 190 disposed above, with topsurface 127 also being second flat portion 190. Ridges may be preferablyformed from a complete semi-cylindrical portion. Alternatively, thecylindrical section will suffice for a 90-180 degree arc length.Removable support 120 is a hollow inflatable bladder 155 adapted to becompressed under lack of internal pressure, and alternately, to expandwhen inflated. Removable support 120 further preferably has first inputport 142 disposed along outer surface 122 of first cylindrical-sectionalridge 175 for exchange of either gas or liquid to form and releaseinternal pressures within inflatable bladder 155 which is hollow bladder157. To accomplish this, hollow bladder 157 is made of a flexible andstretchable material. First input port 142 may be blow tube adapter 144adapted to allow either forced air or a liquid to pass into hollowbladder 157. Seal 165 in blow tube adapter 144 has both an open and aclosed position with the closed position adapted to prevent exchange ofgas or liquid into or out of inflatable bladder 155. The flexible andstretchable material of inflatable bladder 155 may comprise a restingsize such that when inflatable bladder 155 is filled with liquid waterand then seal 165 is closed, liquid water may be frozen and the materialstretches to contain the expanded volume of the frozen water.

Referring now to FIG. 3, is a perspective view illustrating spine 200and aperture 210 of removable support 120 of insulated container 110.

Spine 200 is formed between first 175 and second cylindrical-sectionalridges 185 along top surface 127 that has enough flexibility to allowremovable support 120 to be folded along spine 200 under compressed orfull form. At least one aperture 210 is disposed along spine 200 thatallows melted tee water 150 to drain past top surface 127 into the emptyvoids 160 below removable support 120 to keep melted ice water 150below, and ice 130 above, separated. Removable support 120 of theinsulated container 110 preferably has a solid planar structure andhinge 220 adapted to allow removable support 120 to be folded. Hinge 220is spine 200 and allows first flat portion 182 and second flat portion190 to be folded back to back with inflatable bladders 155 deposedoppositely from each other. The solid planar structure may have two ormore separable panel(s) 230 joined by hinge 220. In a preferredembodiment, joint is formed by an extension of material from both thetop and bottom of the ridges so that the support can be formed from twoseparate sheets. The overlapped sheets may form the spine with orwithout reinforcement, and function to hinge the product at the spine.In an alternative embodiment, the hinge may be made from a separatepiece and/or a solid hinge structure. Semi-cylindrical ridges 172 may bedeflated and the device folded along spine(s) 200 betweensemi-cylindrical ridges 172 into a substantially flattened configurationfor storage if desired. Spine(s) 200 is preferably constructed of such aresilient and flexible material that allows for folding over a long lifewithout fatigue or damage.

Referring now to FIG. 4A is a side elevation view illustrating removablesupport 120 having two semi-cylindrical ridges 172 of insulatedcontainer 110.

There may be second input port 146 disposed along outer surface 235 ofsecond semi-cylindrical ridge 196 and in embodiments having thirdsemi-cylindrical ridge 197 and third input port 138 as seen in FIG. 4B,that may be disposed along outer surface 122 of third semi-cylindricalridge 197. The perimeter shape is adapted to mate and to lock in placewith a complimentary surface, more specifically, the interior ofinsulated container 110. Removable support 120 is preferably made offoam, flexible plastic, or other suitable material having similarcharacteristics. The removable support having two semi-cylindricalridges 172 would typically be used with small steed insulated containers110. for instance, containers having a capacity of about twenty-fivequarts. The number of semi-cylindrical ridges 172 may generally beassociated with given range of cooler capacities, however,semi-cylindrical ridges 172 may be manufactured in various widths orheights and as such, a particular capacity of insulated container 110may have more or less semi-cylindrical ridges 172 in some embodiments.The essence of the invention is the geometry of removable support 120,and not necessarily the relative size or number of semi-cylindricalridges 172.

Referring now to FIG. 4B is a side elevation view illustrating removablesupport 120 having three semi-cylindrical ridges 172 of insulatedcontainer 110.

Removable support 120 has top surface 127 having a generally planarshape to support content placed within insulated container 110 overbottom surface 125. At least one aperture 210 is formed within topsurface 127 where removable support 120 rests adjacent to bottom surface125. This embodiment is preferably a single piece of plastic, foam orvinyl material (e.g. 40-gauge), the same material that traditionaloutdoor mattresses and rafts are made from. Once the device is blown up(or filled with water and frozen overnight) hollow bladder 157 can thenbe inserted into another ice chest 112 or insulated container 110 intine conformation in fit form function to allow food inside of cooler tostore properly without becoming wet from melted ice water 150.

Referring now to FIG. 5A is a bottom view illustrating removable support120 of insulated container 110.

In one preferred embodiment, underside 240 of removable support 120 isdesigned to fit flush at the corners of the traditional ice chest 112 sothat melted ice water 150 can drain through aperture(s) 210, or, inalternative embodiments, it is designed to fit the corners and sides insuch away that water can drain through apertures and/or along theside(s) and at the corners to the water collection chambers below flattop-side 250. Melted ice water 150 will collect at bottom surface 125 ofice chest 112 In between semi-cylindrical ridges 172. This inflatablebladder 155 upon being pressurized is self-supporting to carry a load onits flat top-side 250 while resting on support legs 178 (which may bebumps or semi-cylindrical ridges 172) of bottom-space on underside 240and conforming in and to ice chest 112 of product-containment.Inflatable bladder 155 upon inflation would take on the conformation ofice chest 112 in presenting a flat surface for a load of produce and orice while supporting itself on bottom surface 125 of ice chest 112 witha bottom-cavity-volume for melted ice water 150 for drainage orcontainment of potable water. Removable support 120 is a piece of highdensity sturdy plastic or vinyl that can be blown up with air, like aballoon. After blowing up removable support 120 with air simply sealsemi-cylindrical ridge 172 that you blow the air through just like ablow up pool raft. Once fully inflated the device is manually placedinside of insulated container 110. After the food and drink have beeninserted into die ice chest 112 and on top surface 127 of removablesupport 120 the user can place ice 130 inside of ice chest 112 andaround the contents to keep the contents cold. When ice 130 begins tomelt and transfers energy into water it will naturally melt to bottomsurface 125. As ice 130 transfers energy melting into water it slowlydrains to bottom surface 125 of ice chest 112. The support geometryhumps keep the food and ice inches from bottom surface 125 which acts asagent to ice chest 112. The removable container may also be filled withwater and sealed, and then frozen and placed within insulated container110 and then ice 130, drinks, and food items placed on top of it. Thefrozen ice filled inflatable bladder 155 would aid in slowing the heattransfer and melting of the ice 130 which would then drain around theedges and through aperture(s) 210 to voids 160 between semi-cylindricalridges 172.

Referring now to FIG. 5B is a front cutaway view of an alternateembodiment of insulated container 110.

In this embodiment, insulated container 119 may have storage space 117contained by at least bottom surface 125 having an area and a perimeter,and support 120 adjacent to and above bottom surface 125. Support 120may have a top surface 127 with a generally planar shape as in otherembodiments, to support content placed within insulated container 110over bottom surface 125 and have at least one aperture(s) 210 formedwithin top surface 127 for draining melted ice water 150. Insulatedcontainer 110 may further have hinge coupling 255 along one interiorwall surface 260 of Insulated container 110 that support 120 pivotallycouples to. Hinge coupling 255 is adapted to allow support 120 to rotateupwards from bottom surface 125. Support 120 in this embodiment may notbe inflatable but rigid and have a plurality of support legs 178 formaintaining the space below support 120. For cleaning, support 120 maybe pivoted upward. Support 120 is preferably removable, but may also bemanufactured with the support non-removable, or attached to the walland/or bottom via hinge. Also in this embodiment, support legs 178 mayfold and snap into a planar position with support 120 when in the upwardrotated position. Support 120 may be constructed of a high densitysturdy plastic and have more than one size of support legs 178 that areable to be rotated downward to maintain a space between support 120 andbottom surface 125 of insulated container 110. The larger sized supportlegs 178 provide greater support, but less water storage space 117. Thesmaller sized support legs 178 provide less support strength, butgreater storage space 117 for melted ice water 150. When rotated planarwith support 120 top surface 127, support legs 178 can be snapped intoplace.

In another embodiment as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, removable support 120may be constructed of high density foam having a plurality or array ofaperture(s) 210 allowing for drainage. As shown, in FIG. 8, the highdensity foam may have integrally formed protrusions 800 on underside 240that contact bottom surface of insulated container to maintain voids 160between the protrusions for collecting melted ice water. Protrusions 800may be shaped as cylindrical posts or legs for supporting the support120. Foam body 700 may also comprise an outer edge 710 with interlockingfeatures such as male stub 701 and complimentary female indent 702 toallow the support to be joined by adjacent features, such as a similarsupport, such that the total support can be customized for the size andshape of the insulated container.

In yet another embodiment, removable support 120 may be constructed ofsturdy high density foam having support legs 178 on each end formaintaining voids 160 for collection of melted ice water 150. Platform270 in this embodiment is rigid enough that center support legs may notbe required.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, support 120 with apertures 210 may comprisefoldable support legs 178 may collapse into leg recesses 188 to layflush with underside 240 (shown in FIG. 10). Support 120 may havecenter, or otherwise placed hinge 355 to allowable separable supportends 901 and 902 to fold together. Depending on location of hinge 355,support 120 can fold upwards (leaving legs exposed as shown in FIG. 10)or arranged as shown in FIG. 9 to leave top surface 127 exposed whenfolded.

FIG. 11A-B demonstrates container 1000 built-in support 1120 withapertures 1210 connected to the bottom, or wall, or corner of containerinterior via hinge 1355 molded or permanently affixed to container 1000.As shown in FIG. 11A, built-in support 1120 may be rested on thecontainer bottom interior 1125 and held in place by support leg 1178 ora plurality of support legs. In a preferred embodiment, support leg 1178may stand alone as a long extending bar or bars to hold up most ofsupport from bottom of container. Support leg may snap intocomplimentary features, as known in the art, to secure support inresting position. As shown in FIG. 11B, built-in support 1120 may helifted by rotating upwards along hinge axis to provide access to thebottom 1125 for cleaning, etc.

In each embodiment, removable support 120 is manually placed insideinsulated container 110 and ice 130, drinks, and/or food items 140placed on top surface 127 of removable support 120 to be kept cold. Inembodiments with semi-cylindrical ridges 172, generally the size of icechest 112 or insulated container 110 will dictate the number ofsemi-cylindrical ridges 172. For example, a 50 quart insulated container110 may have removable support 120 with 3 semi-cylindrical ridges 172, a100 quart container may have a support with 4 semi-cylindrical ridges172, and a 150 quart container may have 5 semi-cylindrical ridges 172.The number of semi-cylindrical ridges 172 may be generally dictated bythe size of ice chest 112 but may vary based on preference, cost ofmanufacturing, or other engineering considerations.

Referring now to FIG. 6 showing a flowchart illustrating method 600 ofstoring material within insulated container 110.

Method 600 of storing material within the insulated container 110 havingremovable support 100 may comprise the steps of step one, providing 601insulated container 110 having bottom surface 125. Method 600 furthermay compose step two, inflating 602 removable support 120 with forcedair through blow tube adapter 144 prior to the step of placing it intoinsulated container 110. The step of inflating may Include inflating twoor more semi-cylindrical ridges 172 having a shared top surface 127 withaperture(s) 210 formed in spine(s) 200 between semi-cylindrical ridges172. In step eight 608, method 600 further may have a step of inflatingremovable support 120 with a liquid through blow tube adapter 144 priorto the step of placing and of freezing the liquid within removablesupport 120 after the step of inflating and before the step of placing.

Step three, placing 603 removable support 120 onto bottom surface 125whereby removable support 120 tits adjacent to bottom surface 125; stepfour providing at least one aperture(s) 604 to liquid to flow from aboveto below the support, wither at the edges, corners, and/or throughapertures 210 in fop surface 127 of removable support 120 to allowmelted ice water 150 to flow from above removable support 120 to bottomsurface 125 below removable support 120; step five inserting at leastone foodstuff 605 into insulated container 110 above removable support120; step six, adding 606 ice 130 or other coolant above food items 140;step seven, allowing the added ice 130 to melt 607 whereby melted icewater 150 flows through aperture(s) 210 to bottom surface 125; and stepeight, draining 608 melted ice water 150 from bottom surface 125 throughdrain port 170 in insulated container 110. It should be noted that stepof inserting 605 is an optional step and may not be implemented in allcases.

Insulated container having a removable support 100 may be sold as kit250 comprising the following parts: at least one insulated container110; at least one removable support 120; and at least one set of userinstructions. The kit has instructions such that functionalrelationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention(such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in apreferred manner). Insulated container having a removable support 100may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes andshapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading thisspecification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriatecircumstances, considering such issues as design preference, userpreferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements,available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents orarrangements such as, for example, including more or less components,customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be soldseparately, etc., may be sufficient. The insulated container can beenvisioned as a typical cooler box, but the support may also be fittedinto other insulated containers featuring a bottom and, preferably, atleast one side. For instance, the support can be used in a sink,freezer/refrigerator, pop-up tents, etc. The support may contain obviousapertures, but may also comprise a screen or grid.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned.

What is claimed is new and desired to he protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. An insulated container comprising;a. a storage space contained by at least a bottom surface, said bottomsurface comprising an area and a perimeter; and b. a removable supportadjacent and above said bottom surface, said removable supportcomprising; i. a top surface having a generally planar shape to supportcontent placed within said container over said bottom surface; and ii.at least a first leg adapted for mating with said bottom surface.
 2. Theinsulated container of claim 1, wherein said support comprises: a. afirst cylindrical-sectional ridge serving as said a first leg, whereby afirst flat portion is disposed above, said top surface comprising saidfirst flat portion; b. a second cylindrical-sectional ridge serving as asecond leg, whereby a second Hat portion is disposed above, said topsurface comprising said second flat portion; c. A spine formed betweensaid first and second ridges along said top surface, said spineproviding flexibility to allow said support to be folded along saidspine under compressed or full form; and d. at least one aperture isdisposed along said spine.
 3. The insulated container of claim 2,wherein said support comprises a hollow bladder adapted to compressunder lack of internal pressure and to expand when inflated, saidsupport further comprising a first input port disposed along an outersurface of said first cylindrical-sectional ridge for exchange of gas orliquid to form and release internal pressures within said hollowbladder.
 4. The insulated container of claim 3 wherein said hoi lowbladder comprises a flexible and stretchable material.
 5. The insulatedcontainer of claim 3 wherein said first input port comprises a blow tubeadapter adapted to allow forced air to pass into said hollow bladder,said blow tube adapter comprising a seal having an open and closedposition, said closed position adapted to prevent exchange.
 6. Theinsulated container of claim 4 wherein said first input port comprisesan inlet adapted to allow liquid to flow into said hollow bladder, saidinlet comprising a seal having an open and closed position, said closedposition adapted, to prevent exchange.
 7. The insulated container ofclaim 6 wherein said flexible and stretchable material comprises aresting size, such that when the bladder is filled with a liquid waterand said seal is closed, the liquid water may be frozen wherein saidmaterial stretches to contain the expanded volume of the frozen water.8. The insulated container of claim 5 further comprising a second inputport disposed along an outer surface of said second semi-cylindricalridge.
 9. The insulated container of claim 3, further comprising a thirdsemi-cylindrical ridge.
 10. The insulated container of claim 9, furthercomprising a second input port disposed along an outer surface of saidsecond semi-cylindrical ridge, and a third input port disposed along anouter surface of said third semi-cylindrical ridge.
 11. The insulatedcontainer of claim 1 wherein said support comprises a solid planarstructure and a hinge adapted to allow said support to be folded. 12.The insulated container of claim 11 wherein said solid planar structurecomprises at least two separable panels joined by said hinge.
 13. Aninsulated container comprising: a. a storage space contained by at leasta bottom surface, said bottom surface comprising an area and aperimeter; and b. a removable support adjacent and above said bottomsurface, said removable support comprising; i. a top surface having agenerally planar shape to support content placed within said containerover said bottom surface; ii. at least one aperture formed within saidtop surface; iii. whereby said support rests adjacent to said bottomsurface; iv. a perimeter shape adapted to mate and lock with acomplimentary surface.
 14. The insulated container of claim 13, whereinsaid removable support comprises a foam.
 15. A method of storingmaterial within a cooler, said method comprising the steps of: a.providing an insulated container having a bottom surface; b. placing aremovable support onto the bottom surface, whereby the removable supporttits adjacent to the bottom surface; c. providing at least one aperturein a top surface of the removable support to allow liquid to flow fromabove the support to the bottom surface; d. inserting at least onefoodstuff into the cooler above the removable support; e. adding iceabove the foodstuff; f. allowing the added ice to melt, whereby themelted ice water flows through the at least one aperture to the bottomsurface; and g. draining the melted ice water from the bottom surfacethrough an outlet port in the container.
 16. The method of claim 15further comprising the step of: a. inflating the removable support withforced air through a blow port prior to said step of placing.
 17. Themethod of claim 16 whereby said step of inflating comprises the step ofinflating at least two semi-cylindrical ridges having a shared topsurface, and the at least one aperture formed in a spine between theridges.
 18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of: a.inflating the removable support with a liquid through a port prior tosaid step of placing.
 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising thestep of freezing the liquid within the removable support after the stepof inflating and before the step of placing.
 20. An insulated containercomprising: a. a storage space contained by at least a bottom surface,said bottom surface comprising an area and a perimeter; and b. a supportadjacent and above said bottom surface, said support comprising: i. atop surface having a generally planar shape to support content placedwithin said container over said bottom surface; ii. at least oneaperture formed within said top surface.
 21. The insulated container ofclaim 21 further comprising: a. a hinge coupling said support to aninterior wall of the insulated container adapted to allow said supportto rotate upwards from said bottom surface.